Five facts you may not know about dental implants

There are some facts that don’t appear in the classic dental implant FAQ list, which begs the question: how much do you really know about dental implants?

Maybe one of the coolest and most interesting facts about dental implants is that they are made from the same material used by NASA,how great is that? Dental implants use titanium and titanium alloy, and they are stronger and lighter than steel, ensuring that the implant will last a lifetime. The titanium is the same type of metal used in space shuttles, rockets and guided missiles.

Most people ask how young is too young or how old is too old to get dental implants? When in fact, the important thing is that your mouth is healthy, your teeth are done growing and a periodontist identifies you as an ideal candidate, you can get a dental implant whether you’re 16 or 86.

Of all the tooth replacement solutions available for patients, dental implants have the highest success rate, mostly because of its long life while giving patients all the function and look of your natural teeth. The other alternatives, while popular and useful in many cases, still have limitations. For example, dentures may need to be replaced or adjusted after 7 years, and a crown or bridge can last anywhere from five to 10 years.

What about cavities? Dental implants can’t get cavities because they are not natural teeth so they don’t suffer the same issues. While dental implants are made out of an artificial material, that doesn’t mean patients that have them in place can forget about their overall dental health. It’s still key for them to clean their gums and teeth around the implants, that is where trouble can occur.

With dental implants the jawbone gets stronger than ever . Those materials that NASA also uses like titanium have biologically fusing properties that spur bone growth. Other procedures actually make the jawbone weaker due to the fact that don’t fuse to the bone in patients mouth.